CHAPTEE XXVIII 

 ORNAMENTAL TAXIDERMY. 



UNTIL within a very few years, the taxidermist produced but 

 little purely ornamental work, and the most of that little was 

 rather crude and unattractive. Now, however, decorative piecos 

 are produced in bewildering variety, and many of them are 

 justly regarded as works of art. The productions of the So- 

 ciety of American Taxidermists are now to be seen in thou- 

 sands of the finest homes in the United States, and in art gal- 

 leries, both public and private. In all the exhibitions of the 

 Society, the display of u Articles for Ornamsnt or Use " has 

 always been the most attractive feature, and the one which has 

 elicted from visitors the most surprise, admiration, and hard 

 cash. The beautiful exhibits made by Messrs. F. S. Webster 

 and F. A. Lucas, of Washington ; Thomas W. Fraiue and W. J. 

 ( 'iitchley, of Kochester, N. Y. ; Mr. and Mrs. George H. Hedley, 

 of Medina, N. Y. ; Mr. John Wallace, of New York ; David 

 Bruce, of Brockport, N. Y. ; and Messrs. F. T. Jencks, and Al- 

 drich & Capen, of Boston, will certainly never be forgotten by 

 those who saw them. 



It is impossible to describe here the precise methods by 

 which the various kinds of decorative objects may be produced, 

 and surely in the light of all the methods and details that have 

 already been given, it is unnecessary. It will be sufficient to 

 describe bj r word and picture the character of the various classes 

 of objects, and leave their production to be worked out accord- 

 ing to the principles already laid down. The accompanying 

 plate represents a carefully selected group of decorative objects 

 which were displayed in the New York exhibition of the So- 

 ciety of American Taxidermists, and were afterward presented 

 by their respective owners to the National Museum at Wash- 

 ington, where they are now displayed in the Society's exhibit. 



